China-Africa relations are at something of a crossroads. During the first half of 2015, Chinese foreign direct investment in Africa fell more than 40 percent year-on-year and the dollar value of China's imports from Africa tumbled nearly 43 percent over the same period. China can be expected to use the December FOCAC Summit in South Africa to reassure African countries that it intends to remain engaged on the continent. It may also use FOCAC to explain how the Maritime Silk Road initiative will apply to Africa.